2007-08 LIBERTY

CHRONOLOGY 1971 Nov. 27, 1988 Feb. 28, 1998 Lynchburg Baptist College was founded by Dr. Jerry Liberty defeated Maryland-Eastern Shore, 83-56, at Liberty won its 28th-consecutive game, defeating UNC Falwell, pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church. the VCU Thanksgiving Tournament, marking the Lady Asheville, 65-53, for the program’s second Big South Flames’ first NCAA Division I triumph. Championship. 1972 Lynchburg Baptist gained affiliation with the National 1989 March 14, 1998 Christian Collegiate Association. Sue Kelly took the reins as the fourth head women’s The Lady Flames faced eventual national champion basketball coach in program history. Tennessee in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. 1975 The match-up marked the only time in tournament Lynchburg Baptist College was renamed Liberty Baptist 1990 history two undefeated teams squared off. College, with the school colors changing from green Rick Reeves became the fifth head women’s basketball and gold to red, white and blue. The Flames joined the coach in program history. June 8, 1999 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Carey Green was named the sixth head women’s as an associate member. The Liberty Baptist women’s July 1, 1991 basketball coach in program history. basketball team played its first varsity schedule in Liberty became an official member of the Big South 1975-76, under head coach Brenda Bonheim and Conference. March 20, 2005 assistant coach Curt Christians, finishing 7-1. Liberty upset No. 4-seeded Penn State, 78-70, for the 1992 Lady Flames’ first-ever NCAA Tournament victory. 1977 Liberty began playing all of its home games at the Linda Farver became LBC’s second head women’s Vines Center. March 22, 2005 basketball coach in program history. The Lady Flames knocked off No. 5 seed DePaul by an March 1, 1997 88-79 margin to reach the “Sweet 16.” 1980 Liberty beat UNC Greensboro by an 89-82 count at the Liberty Baptist joined the NCAA at the Division II level Vines Center to win its first-ever Big South Tournament April 16, 2005 as an associate member. title. Liberty graduate Katie Feenstra was selected by the Connecticut Sun with the No. 8 pick of the WNBA 1981 March 14, 1997 Draft’s opening round. She was then dealt to the San Liberty Baptist became a full member at the NCAA The Lady Flames lost to host Old Dominion, 102-52, in Antonio Silver Stars the same day. Division II level, and also became eligible for NAIA their first trip to the NCAA Division I Tournament. postseason competition.

Sept. 1, 1983 Liberty Baptist was accepted as a member of the East Coast Athletic Conference.

1983 Liberty Baptist joined the Mason-Dixon Athletic Conference.

1984 The Flames dropped their NAIA affiliation and became eligible for NCAA Division II postseason competition.

1985 Liberty Baptist College became Liberty University.

1986 Mike Goad took over as the third head women’s basketball coach in Liberty history.

Sept. 1, 1988 Liberty was accepted for NCAA Division I membership.

1997 Big South Champions

118 2007-08 Liberty Lady Flames Basketball LADY FLAMES

All-TIME JERSEY NUMBERS This list contains the jersey numbers worn by Liberty Sharon Freet Zandrique Cason women’s basketball players, from the 1982-83 season Donna Lidstone Krystal Reeves to present. The names under each number are listed Erin Wall beginning with the most recent to wear the number, 15 ...... Karolina Piotrkiewicz Beth Hopkins with current players highlighted in italics. Agne Jasinskaite Kathy Wooten Carol Barnes Kim Ensing 00 ...... Jennifer Eaddy Harriett Blair Anna Barrington 20 ...... Vivian Ewalefo Tracie Woolridge Sheila Ford 3 ...... Roli-Ann Nikagbatse 33 ...... Sharon Wilkerson 21 ...... Jamie Feagin Dena Freeman 4 ...... Courtney Watkins Susan Foreid Sandy Schwasnick Aundrea Dawson Miranda Kettery Tracey LaRose Laura Rollyson Genie Stinnett Leslie Mason Nina Willemse Ginny Holloway Patti Gallant Flori Willie Sarah Hillyer 22 ...... Rachel Hammond 34 ...... Mari Kong Amy Peterson Stephanie Walker Janet Rorer Sondra Fox Britton Bennett Charity Williams 35 ...... Alexandria Bream 5 ...... Robin Vestal Erma Jackson Kristal Tharp Debbie Carr Ann Marie Bowdoin Pam Dwyer Angie Johnson 40 ...... Megan Frazee Stephanie Cox Kristina Palaimaite 10 ...... Allyson Fasnacht Pam Wilder Amy Vickers Monique Leonard Sheila Ford Renee White Kimmie Reeves Jennifer Fairfax Christina Popoff 23 ...... Avery Warley Karen Gouch Della Sue Reynolds Egle Smigelskaite Karen Mitcham Cynthia Thomson Tekita Butler Sarah Beth Faber Saundra Bridges Michelle Johnson Robin Vestal Lori Milburn 41 ...... Molly Frazee

11 ...... Egle Smigelskaite 24 ...... Elena Kisseleva 42 ...... Moriah Frazee Leslie Jones Angie McDaniel Nicole Steckis Rachel Young Kathy Wooten Lisa Towson Tiffany Ratcliff Annetta Paraham Missy Roberts Rebecca Thomson Marsha Houff 25 ...... Rebecca Lightfoot 43 ...... Kittery Maine April Johnson Daina Staugaitiene Paula Lassiter Jennifer Spurlock 44 ...... Katie Feenstra Lynn Attwood Erin Wall Dawn Woodruff Wendy Johnson Michelle Wyms 12 ...... Heather Smith Stacey White Lynn Beardslee Michelle Parker Malynda Keck Leslie Williamson Kristina Usaite Beth Ralph Becky Blesch 45 ...... Roli-Ann Nikagbatse Julie Bintz 30 ...... Rima Margeviciute Meribeth Anderson Ginny Holloway Michelle Fricke Lisa Bateman Jeri Wiley Kirstyn Bliss Dawn Coleman Kristi Mercer Carolyn Curry Pam Stanfield Debbie Wait Melaney Massey Angela Clark Julie Jacobs Renee’ White Lona Isaacs Penny Ervin Malynda Keck 54 ...... Daina Staugaitiene 13 ...... Jill Vincent 31 ...... Crystal Peace Irene Sloof Coleen Flynn Robin Ingalls Keri Johnson Dee Paulson Tacha Woods 14 ...... Sarah Wilkerson Trish Harris Theresa Bream Erma Williams Cheri Yates Theresa Bream 32 ...... Rachel McLeod Lisa Stricklin Wendy Johnson Ana Sousa

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Big South Tournament 1997 Championship Game 1997 BIG SOUTH CHAMPS Liberty 89, UNC Greensboro 82 Vines Center, Lynchburg, Va.

FG- FT- Youth Generates Liberty FGA FTA REB PF TP Kisseleva f 7-18 16-17 14 4 32 Wall f 2-5 0-0 3 2 4 the Turnaround Season Willie c 0-3 2-4 5 0 2 Sa. Wilkerson g 8-11 2-3 3 4 19 Sharon Wilkerson was forced to Sh. Wilkerson g 2-10 6-8 6 4 11 Stinnett 5-7 0-1 2 1 14 leave the game with severe cuts Wyms 3-4 0-0 7 5 6 above her right eye and on her Jess 0-2 1-3 2 4 1 chin, and a chipped tooth thanks Bliss 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 Totals 27-60 27-36 45 25 89 to a collision with the court after a UNC Greensboro player landed FG- FT- UNC GreensboroFGA FTA REB PF TP on her head. Lewis f 4-14 2-2 4 2 11 As Sharon was helped from the Goodson f 11-17 3-5 11 5 25 floor, it was obvious Sarah was Brediger c 3-6 8-11 6 4 14 Ochs g 3-7 3-5 4 5 9 emotionally shaken. In the Cole g 0-4 0-0 2 4 0 second half, however, she was Viverette 3-10 5-7 3-5 3 12 shaking-and-baking the UNCG Smith 0-1 2-2 0 3 2 Ferguson 1-2 0-0 0 1 3 defense. Down by as much as 13 West 1-2 4-4 2 2 6 just after the break, Sarah Totals 26-63 27-36 38 29 82 Attendance: 2,319 It was a moment that will not soon be scored eight-straight points in one stretch as LU knotted the game at 67-67 Officials: Richard Adams, Tom Baldinelli, forgotten in the history of Liberty University. Horace Graham For those who were among the 2,319 with 9:42 left. record-setting crowd in the Vines Center, The Spartans were plagued by second- half foul trouble. Freshman Melinda NCAA Mid-East March 1, 1997, the emotions came Sub-Regional Tournament flooding back at just the mere mention of it. Goodson, who scored 20 points in the first half, picked up her fourth foul with nearly Old Dominion 102, Liberty 58 The basketball floor was a sea of ODU Fieldhouse, Norfolk, Va. humanity participating in a wild celebration. 15 minutes left in the game and was forced The Lady Flames had just finished their to the bench. She finished with 25 points. FG- FT- Liberty FGA FTA REB PF TP miraculous come-from-behind 89-82 victory When the LU freshmen weren’t leading the way, it was senior Genie Stinnett, who Kisseleva f 9-19 1-1 8 4 19 over favored UNC Greensboro. Wall f 1-6 2-2 5 5 4 The come-back story was one of the scored 14 points, while making 4-of-5 three- Willie c 1-2 1-2 4 4 3 Stinnett g 1-6 0-0 2 2 3 greatest in NCAA history. Not just the 13 points pointers, including a big one with 3:13 left to make it, 79-72. The Lady Flames had gone Sh. Wilkerson g 5-15 8-9 5 2 19 the Lady Flames trailed by in the second half Jess 0-2 0-0 2 1 0 of the championship game, but of rebounding ahead when center Michelle Wyms, their only Bliss 2-6 0-2 4 2 4 Bintz 0-3 0-0 4 0 0 from winning just five games the year other senior, scored with 6:57 left to make the score 73-71, and it was a lead LU would Wyms 0-2 0-1 1 2 0 before. Bateman 0-0 0-0 2 0 0 The 180-degree turn was mostly due to a not relinquish. Bowdoin 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 After the emotional victory, there would be Ratcliff 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 triumvirate of freshmen, all of whom were Totals 19-61 12-17 40 22 52 named to the all-conference and all- one more game for the team. Old Dominion, FG- FT- tournament teams: tournament MVP Elena the number-two ranked team in the nation, proved their ranking with a 102-52 win over Old Dominion FGA FTA REB PF TP Kisseleva, the 6-1 forward from Russia, and Andrade f 4-10 1-2 3 3 10 the Wilkerson twins, guards Sharon and the Lady Flames in the opening round of the Machanguana f 15-23 5-8 14 2 35 Roberts c 9-15 1-4 9 2 19 Sarah, from Princeton, W.Va. NCAA Tournament. While Liberty may have gotten its feet soggy wet in its first-ever NCAA Himes g 2-6 0-0 3 1 4 Kisseleva scored 32 points, connecting Penicheiro g 5-10 1-2 6 1 11 on 17-of-18 free throws, while grabbing 14 Tournament appearance, it failed to diminish Small 2-3 0-2 12 3 4 Diaz 1-3 2-4 3 3 4 rebounds and dishing out five assists. For the mountain-top experience of a great turnaround season and winning the first- Eller 4-8 0-1 5 3 9 LU, she was the scorer, however the spark Bradley 0-2 0-0 1 1 0 for the Lady Flames was the twins. ever Big South title. Eblin 2-7 0-1 0 0 6 Totals 44-87 10-24 58 19 102 Midway through a first half that saw Attendance: 4,855 several players bruised and battered, Officials: Marty Noritch, Bobby Giles, Mary Day

120 2007-08 Liberty Lady Flames Basketball LADY FLAMES

Big South Tournament 1998 Championship Game Liberty 65, UNC Asheville 53 1998 BIG SOUTH CHAMPS Vines Center, Lynchburg, Va.

FG- FT- UNC Asheville FGA FTA REB PF TP Undefeated Regular Season Fellers f 1-11 2-2 8 2 4 Credito f 4-8 3-3 8 3 11 Hill g 2-7 6-8 3 4 10 Edwards g 1-3 2-3 0 0 4 Highlights Magical Year Freed g 5-12 0-0 6 5 11 Polokowski 2-3 0-0 2 3 4 Kisseleva led all scorers with 23 Kuehn 2-4 0-0 4 2 5 Brewer 1-3 0-0 3 2 2 points, 15 coming in the second Januseski 1-1 0-0 5 0 2 half and Sharon Wilkerson finished Gay 0-1 0-0 0 1 0 with 14 points. Totals 19-53 13-16 41 22 53 The “Big Three” once again shined FG- FT- Liberty FGA FTA REB PF TP throughout the season, as they Kisseleva f 8-19 5-8 4 1 23 were selected to the all-conference Bliss f 2-7 2-2 7 2 7 and all-tournament teams for t h e Willie c 0-2 2-2 3 2 2 Sa. Wilkerson g 0-4 0-3 3 2 0 second-straight year. Elena Sh. Wilkerson g 5-11 3-4 8 4 14 Kisseleva was named “Player Jackson 6-8 1-3 4 1 13 Sloof 1-3 0-0 2 1 2 of the Year” for the first time, and Wall 1-5 0-1 1 2 2 Rick Reeves was selected “Coach Bateman 0-0 0-0 2 0 0 of the Year” for the second-straight Reeves 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Ratcliff 0-1 0-0 0 1 0 year. Bintz 0-0 2-2 1 0 2 The pinnacle of the Lady Kong 0-0 0-1 0 0 0 After losing to Old Dominion in the opening- Totals 23-60 15-26 39 16 65 round of the NCAA Tournament, the Lady Flames’ poll placement was reached after the Attendance: 5,041 Flames vowed in the NCAA locker room to do Big South Tournament with the Associated Officials: Richard Adams, Tom Baldinelli, Press ranking them 32nd, and the coaches Joe Church whatever it took to earn a better record, a second-straight conference title and a return placing them 39th in their poll. However, the NCAA Mid-East invitation to the NCAA Tournament. When the vision of the team gaining a higher seed in the Sub-Regional Tourn. ball went up for the tip-off of the 1997-98 NCAA Tournament was thwarted as the Tennessee 102, Liberty 58 season, Liberty was ready for a magical bracket was announced, placing Liberty as the Thompson-Boling Arena, Knoxville, 16th-seed against the number-one team in the Tenn. season, and a magical season it was. The Lady Flames went through the first part country, Tennessee. FG- FT- Liberty caught the Lady Vols a little flat Liberty FGA FTA REB PF TP of their schedule without a blemish, starting Kisseleva f 4-15 2-2 7 2 10 early in front of an NCAA first-round record Bliss f 1-5 0-0 3 4 2 to gain national attention of the poll voters, Willie c 0-1 0-0 3 3 0 receiving its first Top 25 votes in school crowd of 12,577, as the Lady Flames scored Sa. Wilkerson g 3-12 4-4 5 2 10 first and stayed with top-seeded Tennessee Sh. Wilkerson g 9-21 2-2 5 3 26 history. “The Shot” by Sharon Wilkerson Jackson 2-4 0-0 4 2 4 for the first seven minutes of the game. After Sloof 2-3 1-2 3 4 6 highlighted a road victory over New Orleans in Wall 0-3 0-0 3 1 0 early January and gave the team momentum tying the game at 12, LU could get no closer Bateman 0-0 0-0 1 0 0 as the Lady Vols size and depth carried them Bintz 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 as they went through the conference slate Kong 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 on to a 102-58 victory. Sharon Wilkerson put Reeves 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 without a loss, only having close contests with Ratcliff 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 on a show with her 26-point effort, 20 of those Totals 21-64 9-10 41 23 58 Elon, Winthrop and Radford, entering the conference tournament as the number-one coming in the first half. She tied an NCAA Regional record, hitting six three-pointers for FG- FT- seed. Tennessee FGA FTAOR-TRPF TP the game. Holdsclaw f 11-17 0-2 8 1 22 Liberty remained undefeated and advanced Catchings f 6-14 3-6 13 0 17 to its second-straight Big South Tournament The magical season was over, but not Stevens c 5-12 4-4 7 1 14 before posting a school-best 28-1 record, a Jolly g 4-9 3-3 2 1 13 championship with a 64-54 victory over Randall g 6-13 3-4 5 1 15 second-straight Big South title and invitation to Clement 1-3 2-2 2 2 5 Charleston Southern. Sarah Wilkerson scored Geter 3-6 0-0 4 2 6 19 points, grabbed seven rebounds, had four the NCAA Tournament along with well- Laxton 0-1 1-3 6 2 1 deserved national-media attention, putting the Milligan 1-3 2-2 0 3 3 assists and came up with three steals. Greene 0-2 0-0 0 0 0 program on the national map. Butts 2-3 1-2 1 1 5 Top-seeded Liberty captured its second- Totals 39-83 19-28 54 14 102 straight Big South Conference title and Attendance: 12,577 remained undefeated with a 65-53 victory Officials: Phyllis Deveney, Tom Danaher, Jack Plunkett over UNC Asheville, at the Vines Center. Elena

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Big South Tournament 1999 Championship Game 1999 BIG SOUTH CHAMPS Liberty 68, Coastal Carolina 55 Asheville Civic Center, Asheville, N.C.

FG- FT- Lady Flames Achieve Coastal Carolina FGA FTA REB PF TP McNeil f 3-9 5-5 7 4 11 Gray f 4-6 0-0 5 1 8 the Three-Peat Weisbrod g 2-7 0-0 3 4 5 Davis g 0-0 3-5 3 1 3 Behind the 28-point, seven- McGill g 7-19 1-1 4 3 16 Foster 3-10 2-2 4 4 8 rebound performance of Kisseleva, Van Acker 1-2 2-2 3 3 4 Liberty won its’ third-straight Rodriguez 0-1 0-0 0 2 0 championship title by defeating Blossom 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Totals 20-54 13-15 29 22 55 Coastal Carolina, 68-55. The Lady Flames built a nine-point lead in FG- FT- the second half, before Coastal Liberty FGA FTA REB PF TP Carolina ran off nine unanswered Kisseleva f 11-20 5-6 7 1 28 Sloof f 3-5 1-3 2 0 7 points to tie the game at 40-40 Spurlock c 0-0 0-0 4 5 0 with 15:47 left in the game. The Sa. Wilkerson g 4-8 0-0 4 3 9 Lady Flames proceeded to go on a Sh. Wilkerson g 5-10 6-7 6 3 16 Woodruff 2-2 0-0 2 1 4 17-6 run over the next eight Ki. Reeves 1-1 0-0 0 1 3 minutes and built an 11-point lead, Kr. Reeves 0-2 1-3 1 1 1 57-46, with 7:06 left in the game. Kettery 0-0 0-0 1 0 0 Young 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Liberty finished the game Willemse 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Thoughts of the previous years’ seeding by outscoring CCU, 11-9. Totals 26-48 13-19 31 15 68 the NCAA Tournament committee still loomed The “Big Three” once again collected their Attendance: 1,000 in the minds of the Lady Flames’ as they share of conference hardware, being selected Officials: Richard Adams, Horace Graham, prepared for the new season. Out to gain the to the all-conference and all-tournament David Curry respect they believed they earned, the teams for the third-straight year. Kisseleva schedule was upgraded significantly with more NCAA Mid-East was named “Player of the Year” for the second Sub-Regional Tournament nationally-ranked opponents added to the straight year and the tournament’s most Georgia 73, Liberty 52 slate. outstanding for the second time in her career. Stegeman Coliseum, Athens, Ga. Early unexpected losses had Liberty finding Rachel Young was an “All-Rookie” team themselves with a 6-6 record, heading into honoree. FG- FT- conference play. The highlight was an 80-76 Once again the team was gathered in the Liberty FGA FTA REB PF TP Kisseleva f 7-20 4-6 4 5 18 come-from-behind upset victory over Kentucky Vines Center to watch the selection show on Sloof f 1-5 0-0 2 0 3 in Lexington. Once the conference season the big screen. This time there was only joy. Spurlock c 0-0 1-3 5 2 1 started, the Lady Flames found their Liberty was awarded a 14th seed and Sa. Wilkerson g 7-13 2-2 6 3 18 equilibrium. They won 12 straight games Sh. Wilkerson g 4-18 0-2 6 1 10 assigned to play Georgia. Woodruff 0-1 0-0 3 1 0 coming down the stretch and found Liberty led through most of the first half Kr. Reeves 0-0 1-2 2 1 1 themselves as the number-one seed, heading and played competitively most of the game. Kettery 0-0 1-2 0 0 1 into the conference tournament once again. The Lady Flames used outside shooting to Ki. Reeves 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Totals 19-57 9-17 34 13 52 After receiving a first-round bye, the Lady take a five-point lead with 7:15 left in the first Flames drew conference-rival Charleston half. Georgia answered with a 13-3 scoring FG- FT- Southern. Elena Kisseleva scored 24 points run, finishing out the first half with a five-point Georgia FGA FTA REB PF TP and pulled down 10 rebounds to lead the Murphy f 1-3 0-0 2 0 3 lead. The Bulldogs pushed its lead to as much Ball f 0-2 0-0 3 3 0 Lady Flames to a hard-fought 70-55 victory. as 10 points midway through the second half McDonald c 5-9 2-2 10 4 12 Sharon Wilkerson finished with 16 points and and finished the game on a 21-10 scoring run. K. Miller g 10-17 1-3 11 1 24 Sarah Wilkerson and Rachel Young each C. Miller g 8-20 0-0 2 3 17 Three straight seasons of excellence, three- Vishniakova 4-7 0-0 6 3 8 added 10 points. straight conference championships and three Brown 1-4 0-0 2 1 2 After playing to a 22-22 tie at the half, NCAA invitations. However, this time, the Lady Irwin-Osbolt 0-3 0-0 2 0 0 Liberty opened the second half on a 6-0 run Flames received the national respect they Nolan 2-6 2-2 3 5 6 and then built as much as a nine-point lead Willis 0-1 1-2 2 0 1 earned, putting an exclamation mark on Totals 31-72 6-9 52 20 73 with 9:29 left in the game. LU closed out the another great year. Attendance: 2,089 last 6:17 of the game on a 17-6 run to Officials: Dennis DeMayo, Judy Schneider, advance to the championship game of the Bill Titis tournament for the third-straight year.

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Big South Tournament 2000 Championship Game Liberty 74, Coastal Carolina 64 2000 BIG SOUTH CHAMPS Asheville Civic Center, Asheville, N.C.

FG- FT- Seniors Finish Four-Year Run Coastal Carolina FGA FTA REB PF TP Bach f 5-15 3-3 4 1 14 McNeil f 4-13 4-5 10 4 13 With Another Championship Gray c 3-7 2-2 7 3 8 Weisbrod g 4-11 2-2 4 4 10 Foster g 4-10 2-2 3 3 10 a victory over Wake Forest, starting Reddick 3-8 2-2 2 5 9 a three-game winning streak Rodriguez 0-1 0-0 1 0 0 heading into Big South Conference Calabrese 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Total 23-65 3-16 38 20 64 play. However, the streak would end FG- FT- as a night of first was experienced Liberty FGA FTA REB PF TP Kisseleva f 4-11 4-6 8 3 15 in the Vines Center when Elon Cason f 2-5 0-0 3 1 4 defeated Liberty to picked up their Fricke c 5-7 2-6 4 3 13 program’s first conference victory Young g 5-9 3-3 2 2 16 Sh. Wilkerson g 2-3 1-2 4 4 5 and hand the Lady Flames their first Sa. Wilkerson 6-7 2-2 4 1 15 Big South loss in the "Furnace" Sloff 1-3 2-2 1 1 4 since the 1997 season. Feenstra 1-2 0-0 1 1 2 Blesch 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 The only other blemish on Kettery 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 the Lady Flames’ Big South docket Reeves 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 New coach and several new players, but was a loss to Elon, too, giving the Rollyson 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Lady Flames the top-seed heading into the Total 26-4714-21 38 17 74 same old results for the Lady Flames as Liberty left the Asheville Civic Center with their tournament. Prior to the start of the Attendance: 4,226 fourth consecutive Big South Conference title tournament action, four Lady Flames were Officials: Joe Cunningham, Wilson honored with all-conference selections, while Rosemond, Richard Adams and a return trip to the NCAA Tournament. The 2000 season started out as a year of Liberty made a clean sweep of the Big South’s NCAA East adjustments as Rick Reeves, who had led the big awards with Player (Sharon Wilkerson), Sub-Regional Tournament Lady Flames to three-consecutive Big South Rookie (Michelle Fricke) and Coach (Carey Louisiana State 77, Liberty 54 Championships, was no longer on the Green) of the Year honors all going the Lady Maravich Center, Baton Rouge, La. sidelines for the Lady Flames. Instead, first- Flames way. year head coach Carey Green was now at the Just as the awards rolled in for the Lady FG- FT- Liberty FGA FTA REB PF TP helm for a growing dynasty. Flames so did the wins as Liberty defeated Kisseleva f 5-14 2-3 5 4 13 Despite Green’s newness to the head first-year tournament participants High Point Cason f 1-4 3-3 4 1 5 coaching position, the 12-year assistant at and Elon to advance to the championship Feenstra c 0-1 0-0 0 1 0 game. Their opponent was a familiar foe as Young g 2-6 0-0 3 0 4 Clemson brought something the Lady Flames Sh. Wilkerson g 2-3 1-2 4 4 5 had desperately desired since starting their Liberty faced Coastal Carolina in a rematch of Sa. Wilkerson 6-7 2-2 4 1 15 run three years earlier – the experience of the 1999 championship game and as had Fricke 1-11 0-1 7 3 2 happened the season before, Liberty was able Sloof 1-4 1-2 0 2 3 winning in an NCAA Tournament. Green helped Blesch 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 guide the Lady Tigers to 11 NCAA Tournaments to overcome the challenges of the Chanticleers Kettery 1-2 0-0 0 0 2 and three “Sweet 16” appearances which was and once again cut down the nets as the Reeves 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 a place a senior laden squad had been looking seniors completed their quest to win four- Total 17-5516-19 34 17 54 to reach for three years. consecutive championships. FG- FT- The year began just as the previous one had For the second-consecutive year, Liberty Louisiana State FGA FTA REB PF TP as Liberty tipped off the season against in- received a 14th-seeded in the “Big Dance”, Brown f 8-15 1-2 8 3 18 White f 3-6 7-8 4 3 13 state foe Virginia Tech. And just as the Hokies having to square off against 12th-ranked Ferdinand g 11-16 0-0 6 2 22 had done the year before, 17th-ranked Virginia Louisiana State in first round of the NCAA Crockett g 0-0 0-0 1 2 0 Tech started the Lady Flames off with a loss. Tournament. Sharon Wilkerson's three-pointer Hibbert g 5-12 1-2 5 1 11 with 3:05 left in the opening period gave the Tardy 2-2 1-2 2 0 5 The remainder of the non-conference Hawkins 3-3 0-1 2 3 6 schedule saw the Lady Flames experience their Lady Flames their first lead in the contest. Johns 0-1 0-0 1 1 0 ups and downs. Liberty defeated in-state Liberty looked well on their way to contending Lymon 0-0 0-0 1 3 0 for its first NCAA Tournament victory as they Traylor 0-1 2-2 0 1 2 opponent Richmond for the first time in 13 Weiner 0-0 0-0 1 0 0 attempts before falling to eighth-ranked Notre trailed by one at the intermission. However, the Total 32-5612-17 33 19 77 Dame in the championship of the Wachovia Lady Tigers outscored the Lady Flames 23-8 in Women’s Invitational. the first 10 minutes of the second half to open Attendance: 1,706 Officials: Trammell, Herke, Stevens The Lady Flames posted their first win over up a margin that Liberty would be unable to an ACC opponent in the program’s history with overcome.

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Big South Tournament 2001 Championship Game 2001 BIG SOUTH CHAMPS Liberty 52, Elon 47 Roanoke Civic Center, Roanoke, Va. Magical Run Continues FG- FT- Elon FGA FTA REB PF TP Ghee 1-2 0-0 0 1 2 With Fifth-Straight Title Hepburn 2-4 2-2 2 5 6 DeVeaux 1-3 0-0 3 2 2 Chikos 3-7 2-2 2 3 8 while Rachel Young took home Lawson 2-10 0-0 1 1 5 Milosavljevic 2-8 2-2 1 2 7 second-team honors. Freshmen Green 2-5 0-0 2 2 5 Monique Leonard and Kristina Andrews 0-1 2-2 3 2 2 Blankeney 1-4 4-9 6 4 6 Palaimaite both were named the McLeod 0-5 2-5 8 1 2 league’s all-rookie team. Nyborg 0-1 2-4 1 4 2 Still looking for TOTALS 14-50 16-26 31 27 47 the bigger crown and an NCAA FG- FT- tournament berth, LU started the Liberty FGA FTA REB PF TP league tournament with a 57-49 Fricke 3-10 4-7 11 4 11 Palaimaite 1-4 5-10 6 3 7 win over UNC Ashville at the Feenstra 2-11 4-5 6 5 8 Roanoke Civic Center. After Young 4-7 3-6 7 5 11 Sloof 1-6 4-4 6 4 6 knocking off High Point 74-55 in Rollyson 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 the semifinals, Elon was the only Leonard 2-9 3-5 5 4 7 Foreid 0-0 0-0 1 1 0 team standing between the Lady Peace 1-2 0-2 2 0 2 With every Big South school out to end Flames and the school’s fifth TOTALS 14-49 23-29 54 26 52 the Lady Flames strangle hold on the straight conference tournament title and a trip to the NCAA tournament. Attendance: 764 conference title, Liberty had a huge target Officials: Bob Schildt, Dan Outlaw, Anne on them every time they stepped on the After trailing by one-point at halftime, LU Marie Treadway court. However, a resilient Lady Flames did not give up in claiming a 52-47 win and the conference title. Leading the Lady NCAA East squad kept the storyline the same. Sub Regional Tournament Flames in the tournament was Fricke who The non-conference season brought a Georgia 77, Liberty 48 roller coaster of emotions to the squad. was named tournament MVP after posting a Stegeman Coliseum, Athens, Ga. After knocking off Big East foe West Virginia double-double in each of LU’s three win. Young and Palaimaite were also named to FG- FT- to even their record at 2-2 early in the Liberty FGA FTA REB PF TP season, the Lady Flames dropped seven the all-tournament team as the Lady Flames Foreid 0-1 0-0 0 1 0 pushed on toward the NCAA tournament. Fricke 3-15 1-2 3 2 8 straight with loses to the likes of Virginia, Feenstra 3-10 0-1 11 4 6 Iowa State and Wake Forest. The Lady Flames received a 15th-seed Leonard 3-9 3-6 8 2 9 and were given a first round date with the Young 0-3 0-0 0 1 0 With a 2-9 record at the start of 2001, Rollyson 3-9 2-2 3 0 9 LU won its final non-conference game of the nation’s fourth ranked team – the Georgia Peace 2-5 0-0 3 0 4 Lady Bulldogs. The Lady Bulldogs jumped Palaimaite 2-7 5-8 7 3 9 season at Hampton 81-76 to get the ball Sloof 1-1 0-0 3 0 3 rolling. The Lady Flames cruised to four out to a 22-7 edge midway through the TOTALS 17-60 11-19 42 13 48 straight conference wins before falling at opening half and never looked back in Elon by 18 points – its worst conference dashing LU’s hopes for an NCAA FG- FT- tournament win. Georgia FGA FTA REB PF TP loss in four year. Nolan 3-8 0-0 5 2 6 LU continued to fight through adversity Briggans 1-3 1-4 4 1 3 McDonald 5-15 2-2 11 0 12 and reeled off six straight league wins to K. Miller 7-8 1-2 9 2 16 put themselves ahead of the pack for the C. Miller 6-16 0-1 4 2 14 Taylor 2-2 0-0 0 1 4 regular season title. After a five-point loss Lycett 2-6 1-1 2 2 6 to High Point, the Lady Flames won their Thomas 2-5 4-6 4 4 8 Brown 2-4 2-2 3 3 6 final two games to claim their fourth BSC King 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 regular season crown. McEntire 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 Washington 1-1 0-0 3 3 2 For their efforts in helping LU to the Henson 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 regular season title, four Lady Flames were TOTALS 31-70 8-11 48 20 77 honored by the BSC. Michelle Fricke was Attendance: 4,116 named the first-team all-conference squad Officials: Angela Lewis, Cameron Inouye, Steve Stelljes

124 2007-08 Liberty Lady Flames Basketball LADY FLAMES

Big South Tournament 2002 Championship Game Liberty 57, Coastal Carolina 33 2002 BIG SOUTH CHAMPS Roanoke Civic Center, Roanoke, Va.

FG- FT- Coastal Carolina FGA FTA REB PF TP Lady Flames Continue Calabrese 0-4 0-0 4 0 0 Co. Brown 2-9 0-0 9 4 4 Cr. Brown 2-16 8-12 7 4 12 Reddick 4-20 4-5 7 1 13 Championship Run Shearer 1-5 0-0 6 4 2 Meeks 1-2 0-0 3 1 2 Huntzinger 0-0 0-0 2 1 0 & Nearly Achieve NCAA Ingle 0-2 0-0 2 3 0 TOTALS 10-5812-17 45 18 33 FG- FT- First Round Victory Liberty FGA FTA REB PF TP Palaimaite 1-3 3-5 3 2 5 Tournament and All-Rookie team, Stagaitiene 2-6 0-0 3 2 4 M. Feenstra 1-3 2-3 7 1 4 the Chillicothe, Ohio native Rollyson 1-5 0-0 1 0 3 became the school’s fourth Big Young 1-2 0-0 2 1 3 Leonard 0-3 0-0 4 2 0 South Rookie of the Year. Usaite 0-1 0-0 1 0 0 Walker was the squad’s Jasinskaite 1-1 0-0 2 1 2 Foreid 1-1 2-2 2 2 4 third leading scoring tallying 8.6 Walker 1-3 2-5 4 3 4 points a game while playing in all Peace 0-1 1-2 2 0 1 Sousa 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 30 games, including a start in 20 Tharp 4-9 2-2 4 0 12 of those contests. Walker was K. Feenstra 5-12 5-7 6 2 15 TOTALS 18-5017-26 43 16 57 honored as a member of the Big South All-Rookie team as well as Attendance: 1,170 Officials: Kim Watt, Jennifer Rezac, receiving league Rookie of the Mike Utley Week honors twice during the NCAA East regular season. Sub Regional Tournament A trio of newcomers were instrumental for The Lady Flames record South Carolina 69, Liberty 61 the Lady Flames ride to the school’s sixth stood at 4-6 heading into the start of 2002 Colonial Center, Columbia, S.C. straight Big South women’s basketball title. but they didn’t let passed setbacks hurt FG- FT- For the second time in school history three their remaining portion of the schedule. Liberty FGA FTA REB PF TP Liberty reeled off six straight wins before Palaimaite 1-2 0-0 2 3 2 freshmen led the squad in scoring and the M. Feenstra 3-10 0-0 5 5 6 end result was the same for the rest of the Elon handed Liberty their only league loss Walker 5-9 8-9 4 1 19 on Jan. 21 but the Lady Flames responded Tharp 4-12 0-0 8 4 9 conference. Stagaitiene 0-1 2-2 1 0 2 Freshmen Katie Feenstra, Kristal Tharp by winning their next 10 regular season Rollyson 0-3 0-0 0 0 0 games and three straight at the Big South Leonard 2-6 0-0 1 0 4 and Stephanie Walker became the second Young 1-1 0-0 0 0 2 group of freshmen to lead Liberty in scoring tournament en route to the championship. Jasinskaite 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 In addition to the freshman honors, Foreid 4-10 1-3 9 5 9 six years after the “Big Three” of Elena Peace 1-2 0-0 0 0 2 Kisseleva, Sharon Wilkerson and Sarah Meribeth Feenstra received first-team all- K. Feenstra 3-8 0-1 6 1 6 conference honors after scoring 5.9 points, TOTALS 24-64 11-15 44 19 61 Wilkerson turned the trick during the Lady Flames first run at the league title. 6.2 rebound a game while leading the Big South in blocked shots with 77. FG- FT- Feenstra lead the way averaging 10.8 South Carolina FGA FTA REB PF TP points a game, playing in 16 contests after Geter 4-9 5-7 4 2 13 Penn 5-10 3-7 14 4 13 missing the first 14 with a knee injury. Her Ujhelyi 8-14 3-6 11 2 19 regular season accolades help land her on Ciocan 3-6 1-2 3 3 8 Gortman 3-13 0-0 8 2 8 the Big South All-Rookie squad. Feenstra Ajanovic 0-2 0-0 1 0 0 was vital at the Big South tournament were Morrone 1-4 0-0 2 2 3 Troina 2-5 1-1 2 1 5 she averaged 18.0 points and 7.7 rebounds Segras 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 a game at the four-day event in earning All- TOTALS 26-6413-23 47 16 69 Tournament honors. Attendance: 3,727 Not far behind was Tharp who scored 9.2 Officials: Mark Zentz, Tom Danaher, Deb Allen points a game on the strength of a team high 33 made shots from behind the arc. In addition to being named the Big South All-

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Big South Tournament 2003 Championship Game 2003 BIG SOUTH CHAMPS Liberty 84, High Point 71 Vines Center, Lynchburg, Va. FG- FT- High Point FGA FTA REB PF TP Lady Flames Continue Title Reign Jenner 3-6 4-6 2 4 10 Rosser 5-7 2-2 6 4 14 Henry 6-15 2-2 4 4 16 Scott 2-7 3-3 0 3 7 With Seventh-Straight Crown Brockman 3-16 0-0 5 5 8 O’Brien 2-2 0-1 2 1 4 double by scoring 16.8 points a Vinson 1-1 1-2 2 0 3 O’Dell 1-1 0-0 0 2 3 night, on a 59.7 shooting Mills 1-1 0-0 1 2 2 percentage and collecting 9.1 Scott 2-7 0-1 2 3 4 rebounds, while Tharp chipped in TEAM — — 4 — — with 12.6 points a game, TOTALS 26-6312-17 28 28 71 shooting 44.0 percent from FG- FT- behind the arc, and grabbing 4.2 Liberty FGA FTA REB PF TP Tharp 6-12 4-4 4 3 18 boards a night. Collectively, Palaimaite 1-1 1-2 9 0 3 Liberty outscored its opponents Feenstra 10-17 8-10 13 4 28 by an average of 17.4 points and Jasinskaite 2-4 0-0 3 2 4 Staugaitiene 2-6 4-4 1 1 9 out rebounded them by 11.6 over Dawson 0-0 1-2 1 0 1 the 22-game span. Leonard 2-4 1-6 1 0 6 For the second time in Foreid 3-8 2-7 3 0 8 Walker 2-3 0-0 3 1 4 school history, and the first Butler 0-2 3-4 3 1 3 under fourth year head coach Margeviciute 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Carey Green, the Lady Flames Sousa 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 A new year - the same old story. For the Anderson 0-0 0-0 2 1 0 went through conference unscathed, with a TOTALS 28-5724-39 48 13 84 seventh-consecutive year, the Lady Flames perfect 14-0 record en route to their sixth- headed to the NCAA tournament after straight regular season title and seventh- Attendance: 3,071 dominating the competition in the Big South Officials: Jennifer Rezac, Darrelly straight tournament title on an 84-71 Johnson, Tom Baldinelli during the regular season and postseason. victory over High Point in the championship The Lady Flames seventh-straight game, led by a 28-point, 13-rebound NCAA East conference title, not only tied a Big South Sub Regional Tournament performance by Feenstra. With that Vanderbilt 54, Liberty 44 record held by Radford, it placed Liberty dominating performance, Feenstra was Ted Constant Convocation among elite company in the nation, giving named to the Big South All-Tournament Center, Norfolk, Va. them the third-longest championship run, Team, along with Kristal Tharp, and earned FG FT behind just Old Dominion (12 straight CAA Big South Tournament MVP honors. Liberty FGA FTA REB PF TP titles) and Louisiana Tech (eight straight With a 26-3 record and another Big Staugaitiene 5-11 2-3 5 2 13 titles). Palaimaite 0-4 2-2 5 2 2 South Championship, the Lady Flames Feenstra 3-8 1-2 12 4 7 The Lady Flames posted a 26-4 record earned their first-ever national ranking, as Jasinskaite 4-13 0-0 4 1 10 during the 2003 campaign, with the they were ranked 25th in the nation in the Tharp 4-13 0-1 4 0 10 Dawson 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 program’s biggest win to-date, a thrilling 77- USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Coaches Poll on rd Leonard 0-4 0-0 0 4 0 69 overtime victory over 23 -ranked March 11. Foreid 1-3 0-0 4 3 2 Virginia, marking the first time that the Lady Liberty took its Top 25 ranking into the Walker 0-1 0-0 1 0 0 Butler 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 Flames had beaten a ranked opponent. th NCAA Tournament as the 13 seed to face Margeviciute 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 However, after opening the 2002-2003 the fourth-seeded Vanderbilt Commodores. Anderson 0-0 0-0 2 1 0 season with three wins, Liberty would go on In what would prove to be a defensive TEAM — — — 4 — to lose three out of the next four games to struggle, the Commodores ended Liberty’s TOTALS 17-58 5-8 41 18 44 begin the season 4-3. What happened next 22-game win streak and hopes of its first- FG FT would be simply amazing. ever NCAA Tournament victory with a 54-44 Vanderbilt FGA FTA REB PF TP After a sluggish 4-3 start, the Lady McElhiney 5-10 4-6 3 1 17 victory and end the Lady Flames’ season. Benningfield 4-10 0-1 8 3 8 Flames reeled off 22-straight victories, The Lady Flames received numerous Anderson 3-7 1-3 10 4 7 giving Liberty the second longest such accolades during the 2002-03 season, as Ramsey 4-9 0-0 3 2 11 streak in the nation. Only the eventual Carey Green was named Big South Coach of Hager 2-5 0-0 4 1 5 national champions, the Connecticut Battle 0-1 0-0 0 2 0 the Year for the second time and Feenstra Early 3-4 0-2 2 1 6 Huskies, had a longer winning streak. Over was named Player of the Year. First-Team TEAM — — 3 — — those 22 games, Liberty was led by their all-conference honors were awarded to TOTALS 21-46 5-12 33 14 54 top two sophomore sensations - Katie Feenstra and Tharp, while Tharp was also Attendance: 5,239 Feenstra and Kristal Tharp. named to the all-academic team. Officials: John Weeks, Jack Jones, Feenstra nearly averaged a double- Cameron Inouye

126 2007-08 Liberty Lady Flames Basketball LADY FLAMES

Big South Tournament 2004 Championship Game Liberty 54, Birmingham-So. 41 2004 BIG SOUTH CHAMPS Vines Center, Lynchburg, Va.

FG- FT- Birmingham-So. FGA FTA REB PF TP Spears 2-13 0-0 5 2 4 Eighth-Straight Big South Title Gentsch 1-2 1-2 8 4 3 oods 1-5 2-2 0 1 5 Anthony 1-12 4-4 1 3 6 Sets Benchmark for Basketball Boyett 5-10 3-3 6 0 13 Knotkova 0-4 5-6 3 4 5 Oliver 2-9 0-0 1 2 5 TEAM -- -- 3 -- -- Championships Total 12-5515-17 27 16 41 The six-foot-eight center FG- FT- Liberty FGA FTA REB PF TP began the year in unchartered Palaimaite 4-8 5-6 7 3 13 waters as she became the first Feenstra 7-16 3-4 12 4 17 Dawson 1-4 0-0 5 2 2 Lady Flame to be named as a Leonard 3-4 2-2 4 0 8 Street & Smith's Preseason Staugaitiene 1-12 3-4 13 1 5 Parker 0-2 0-0 0 0 0 Honorable Mention All-American. Feagin 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 However, the honors didn't stop Margeviciute 3-6 0-0 8 1 7 Peace 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 there. Feenstra dominated her Tharp 1-4 0-0 1 0 2 competition, posting a career- TEAM -- -- 5 -- -- high 22 double-doubles and Total 20-5613-16 55 12 54 becoming the only player in the Attendance: 1,521 Officials: Lawson Newton, Jennifer Rezac, nation to be in the Top 15 in field Dan Outlaw goal percentage (1st, 65.7), points (10th, 21.1), rebounds NCAA East (10th, 11.0) and blocks per Sub Regional Tournament The 2004 season was one of record Georgia 78, Liberty 53 proportions. Vying to join elite company game (14th, 2.6). With those statistics, Liacouras Center Philadelphia, Pa. around the nation and set the bench mark Feenstra earned national honors as she for basketball championships in the Big was selected to Kodak/WBCA All-America Region II Team, Associated Press FG- FT- South, the Lady Flames entered the season Liberty FGA FTA REB PF TP looking to do what no other team in the Big Honorable Mention All-America Team and Palaimaite 2-4 2-3 6 1 6 Academic All-America District III Second- Feenstra 4-10 0-1 10 2 8 South had done; win eight-straight Big Dawson 3-7 0-2 4 1 6 South basketball titles. And that's exactly Team. Leonard 3-10 1-2 4 2 7 what they did as they marched through the Head coach Carey Green and his staff Staugaitiene 2-13 0-1 6 4 5 Jones 0-1 0-0 0 3 0 conference unscathed for the second- continued their brilliance from the sidelines. Parker 0-2 0-0 1 0 0 consecutive season, while breaking their On January 17, Green earned his 100th Ewalefo 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 career victory as he would go on to record Feagin 0-0 0-2 2 0 0 own record for consecutive regular Big Margeviciute 3-7 0-0 5 0 6 South victories (37). 15 more to bring his five year record to 115- Peace 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 39; making him one of the most successful Tharp 4-9 4-4 3 1 15 During the regular season, Liberty TEAM -- -- 3 -- -- posted a 25-7 record, reeling off 16-straight head coaches in the nation. Green currently Total 21-64 7-15 44 14 53 victories to close out the season as they stands just 22 victories shy of becoming FG- FT- entered the NCAA Tournament for the the all-time winningest Liberty women's Georgia FGA FTA REB PF TP basketball coach. Former head coach Rick Thomas 3-5 2-2 4 4 8 eighth-straight time and squared off against Rowsey 1-6 1-2 8 3 4 the Lady Bulldogs of Georgia for the third Reeves currently holds the top spot with Baker 5-13 3-4 10 3 13 136 career victories at Liberty. Hardrick 2-3 3-4 1 3 8 time in six postseasons, dropping the Kendrick 4-10 0-0 6 0 10 contest 78-53. Pierce 8-15 1-2 4 2 17 Although the Lady Flames failed to win Chambers 8-15 0-0 3 2 19 Frye 0-1 0-0 1 1 0 their game in the NCAA Tournament and TEAM -- -- 5 -- -- move on, it was one of the more special Total 31-6810-14 42 17 78 seasons, especially for junior Katie Feenstra who recorded arguably the Attendance: 2,037 Officials: Dennis Mayer, Angie Lawson, greatest season-ever by a Lady Flame Alicia Walker basketball player; or for that matter any Liberty basketball player.

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Big South Tournament 2005 Championship Game 2005 BIG SOUTH CHAMPS Liberty 88, UNC Asheville 41 Vines Center, Lynchburg, Va. FG- FT- UNC Asheville FGA FTA REBPF TP Lady Flames Earn Ninth Big Elder 2-6 0-0 2 4 4 Clapp 2-8 3-4 6 3 7 Roche 0-3 0-0 1 2 0 Vuncannon 0-1 0-0 1 0 0 South Title; Earn First NCAA Hood 3-11 0-2 2 2 6 Barton 0-1 0-0 2 0 0 Hendley 2-4 0-0 0 0 5 Opfer 2-5 1-2 1 0 6 Tournament Win Young 0-1 2-2 2 0 2 Baldwin 1-5 0-0 0 0 3 nation and riding a 35-game Kirby 0-1 0-0 1 2 0 Shepard 3-6 2-3 4 4 8 home winning streak. However, TEAM -- -- 4 -- -- All-American Katie Feenstra and Total 15-52 8-13 26 17 41 the rest of the team were not FG- FT- intimidated as they went on to Liberty FGA FTA REBPF TP Margeviciute 3-9 5-7 8 2 11 hand the Wildcats their worst Tharp 2-5 0-0 4 0 6 loss at home since 1998 with a Feenstra 9-15 1-2 10 3 19 Fasnacht 1-2 1-2 1 0 3 21 point loss, 77-56. Staugaitiene 6-11 1-3 5 2 16 Watkins 1-5 0-0 2 2 3 The win marked the biggest Jones 1-2 0-0 0 1 2 victory in Liberty's 30-year Parker 1-3 2-3 1 0 4 Piotrkiewicz 6-9 1-2 4 2 13 history, but it would be just the Feagin 2-4 0-0 6 2 4 Walker 2-3 0-0 0 0 4 first of many extraordinary Lady Nikagbatse 1-1 0-0 5 0 3 Flames' accomplishments to TEAM -- -- 6 -- -- Total 35-6911-19 52 14 88 come. Would this be the year? Would this be After dropping its next two games to Attendance: 2,738 the year that talent met expectations? Virginia Tech and No. 3 Duke, Liberty would Officials: Jason Lawson, Kim Watts, Sue Blauch Would this be the year that the seniors reel off 16 victories over its next 17 would leave their mark on the Liberty contests. NCAA East women's basketball program? Would this Sub Regional Tournament Next up was a home date with the Liberty 78, Penn State 70 be the year that the Lady Flames made a Panthers of High Point - the last Big South Comcast Center, College Park, Md. national impact? team to hand Liberty a defeat. FG- FT- Those are the questions that faced the The Lady Flames entered the game Liberty FGA FTA REB PF TP 2004-05 women's basketball team and by riding a 57-game conference streak and the Margeviciute 4-10 8-9 12 3 18 Tharp 6-14 2-2 5 2 15 the end of the season the Lady Flames had seniors had recorded a 61-1 (.984) record Feenstra 8-12 6-13 11 4 22 a question of their own! against Big South opponents. But neither of Fasnacht 5-10 7-8 3 2 18 Staugaitiene 1-4 1-3 4 3 3 It wouldn't be an easy season for the those stats matter much as Liberty came Watkins 1-2 0-0 2 2 2 2004-05 squad as road games at Virginia, out flat and was held to 17 first half points Feagin 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Nikagbatse 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Kansas State, Duke and Ohio State mixed en route to a High Point victory. TEAM -- -- 2 -- -- in with home dates with Richmond and The Panthers' win certainly end Total 25-5224-35 39 16 78 Virginia Tech posed tough challenges. something, but it started something as FG- FT- During head coach Carey Green's tenure well: a buzz that Liberty could be beat and Penn State FGA FTA REBPF TP Brown 4-7 4-7 6 4 12 at Liberty, the Lady Flames had been close, they were vulnerable. Schwab 3-5 1-1 10 3 7 real close, to upsetting some big time Although they couldn't see it at the time, Brenden 5-7 0-0 2 5 13 Strom 5-15 1-1 4 2 13 programs. With only one victory over a top the High Point loss was the best thing to Wright 5-19 9-10 6 4 19 25 team in five years, Green and his happen to a complacent Liberty team. Squire 0-0 2-2 0 0 2 Joseph 0-0 0-0 0 2 0 coaching staff looked to change that In the previous two seasons the Lady Bland 0-2 0-0 1 3 0 statistic and they had more than their share Flames cruised through the back-half of Harris 2-10 0-0 1 2 4 TEAM -- -- 5 -- -- of opportunities. The Wildcat Classic was their schedule and entered the NCAA Total 24-6517-21 35 25 70 one of those chances for this Liberty team. Tournament on winning streaks of 22 After running over a Tennessee State games and 19 games. But this time, Liberty Attendance: 3,767 team, 74-38, Liberty took on a Kansas had lost with just two games remaining in Officials: John Weeks, Connie Pardue, Daryl Humphrey State team that was ranked No. 17 in the (Continued on page 129)

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NCAA East Sub Regional Tournament Liberty 88, DePaul 79 2005 NCAA TOURNAMENT Comcast Center, College Park, Md. FG- FT- Liberty FGA FTA REBPF TP Margeviciute 4-7 1-2 5 2 9 Tharp 5-17 6-6 5 2 16 What A Sweet Feeling: Liberty Feenstra 11-14 7-7 13 3 29 Fasnacht 0-3 2-2 2 0 2 Staugaitiene 4-7 2-2 9 3 12 Watkins 3-6 0-0 3 0 7 Upsets DePaul To Advance To Jones 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Parker 1-1 2-2 0 1 4 Piotrkiewicz 2-2 0-0 1 0 4 The Sweet 16! Feagin 1-1 0-0 1 1 2 Walker 1-1 1-2 0 0 3 Nikagbatse 0-2 0-0 0 1 0 The Lady Flames out TEAM -- -- 8 -- -- played the Lady Lions and earned Total 32-6121-23 47 13 88 the Big South's first NCAA FG- FT- DePaul FGA FTA REBPF TP Basketball Tournament victory Carney 4-11 3-4 13 4 11 and the team's first victory in Smith 9-20 7-7 10 3 27 Rubino 3-9 0-0 7 2 6 nine NCAA Tournament attempts. Quigley 1-15 2-2 3 5 4 When the lights shone the Dant 9-23 2-4 4 3 26 Smith 2-6 0-0 3 2 5 brightest, Liberty's best showed Smith 0-3 0-2 4 1 0 up as Katie Feenstra poured in a Benton 0-2 0-0 1 0 0 TEAM -- -- 2 -- -- game-high 22 points. But it was a Total 28-8914-19 47 20 79 freshman that surprised most as Attendance: 3,838 Allyson Fasnacht ran the show Officials: Bill Titus, Scotty Herndon, Mary Day flawlessly, scoring a season-high NCAA East 18 points with no turnovers. Sweet 16, Chattanooga (Continued from page 128) The victory marked just the Regional their schedule before the Big South fourth time that a No. 13 seed knocked off LSU 90, Liberty 48 The McKenzie Arena, Tournament. a No. 4 seed in the women's tournament. Chattanooga, Tenn. While some outsiders thought that this Coming into the tournament, No. 13 seeds FG- FT- was the season, Liberty's dominance of the were 4-44. Liberty FGA FTA REB PF TP Margeviciute 3-7 3-4 4 3 9 conference might end, the insiders knew Next up was the Blue Demons of Tharp 1-6 2-2 5 1 5 what had happened: a giant had been DePaul. Once again it was Feenstra who did Feenstra 4-15 1-3 12 2 9 Fasnacht 1-1 0-0 0 1 3 awaken! what she had done so many times of during Staugaitiene 3-10 2-2 2 4 10 What followed over the next five games her four-year career; she dominated the Watkins 1-3 0-0 2 1 2 Jones 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 turned the doubters into believers. The Lady game. The center proved to be nearly Parker 1-3 0-0 0 0 2 Flames rolled over their opponents by an unstoppable, scoring the Lady Flames' first Piotrkiewicz 0-0 0-2 2 2 0 Feagin 2-4 0-0 1 1 4 average of 41 point per game, while holding eight points en route to a game-high 29 on Walker 1-2 0-0 3 0 2 them to 25.2 percent shooting. 11-of-14 shooting, while also grabbing 13 Nikagbatse 1-2 0-0 1 0 2 TEAM -- -- 2 -- -- Liberty set yet another record as its 47- rebounds for her 49th double-double of her Total 18-54 8-13 34 15 48 point victory in the championship game over career, propelling the team to victory. FG- FT- UNC Asheville demolished the old record for With the win, Liberty earned a spot in LSU FGA FTA REBPF TP Johnson 5-8 0-0 4 0 12 margin of victory in a championship game the Sweet 16 and quieted all the critics. Hoston 8-14 3-4 2 3 22 Augustus 10-12 2-2 2 0 22 of 24 points. Although they'd go on to face the overall No. Jones 0-3 0-0 5 2 0 So, would this be the season that the 1 seed in LSU and lose, the 2004-05 Willis 2-2 0-0 3 3 4 White 2-2 0-0 2 0 4 Lady Flames finally won an NCAA First season will be remembered as one of the Mitchell 0-0 0-0 1 1 0 greatest in Lady Flames' basketball history. Leblanc 1-1 1-1 0 0 3 Round game, or would it be the same old Chaney 1-5 0-0 0 0 3 story; dominate the Big South, get After answering all the critic's questions, Williams 1-1 0-0 2 1 2 Whitfield 1-2 0-0 2 0 2 dominated in The Tournament. it was Feenstra, who while being Fowles 3-7 4-6 4 4 10 interviewed by Jimmy Dykes of ESPN after Biernacka 1-4 0-0 1 1 2 Having faced seven-straight SEC White 2-2 0-0 3 0 4 opponents in the opening round in previous their upset of No. 5 DePaul on why she TEAM -- -- 2 -- -- Total 37-6310-13 33 15 90 trips, Liberty caught a break and was chose Liberty, that asked the final question: “Why not Liberty?” Attendance: 5,702 matched up against Penn State of the Big Officials: Joe Cunningham, Eric Ten - a match-up that would prove favorable Lawson, Charles Gonzalez to Liberty.

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Big South Tournament 2006 Championship Game 2006 BIG SOUTH CHAMPS Liberty 53, High Point 50 Vines Center, Lynchburg, Va. FG- FT- High Point FGA FTA REBPF TP A Perfect 10: Lady Flames Keep Thys 1-3 0-0 3 4 2 O’Dell 2-14 2-2 7 1 6 Ralls 4-11 2-2 1 2 11 Cook 0-4 4-5 6 1 4 Big South Title Streak Going Sellars 4-10 2-2 1 1 12 Thompson 3-7 0-0 1 1 8 but Liberty went on to win its next 14 Manuel 3-3 1-2 3 2 7 Brockmyer 0-1 0-0 1 1 0 games. Two of those 14 victories Tripp 0-1 0-0 1 1 0 came against High Point. TEAM ------6 ------The first of those revenge Total 17-54 11-13 30 14 50 contests came in front of a season- FG- FT- high 3,366 fans at the Vines Center Liberty FGA FTA REBPF TP Piotrkiewicz 4-10 2-4 9 4 10 on Feb. 18. Liberty seized control of Frazee, Mor. 3-6 1-6 8 4 7 the Big South lead with a 62-53 Nikagbatse 5-10 1-1 8 1 11 victory. That triumph made Green Watkins 1-3 0-0 5 4 2 Fasnacht 4-6 0-0 2 2 9 the winningest women’s basketball Parker 0-2 2-5 4 1 2 coach in Big South history with 159 Feagin 3-9 0-0 5 1 6 career wins. Hammond 1-8 0-0 2 0 3 Lightfoot 1-1 0-0 0 0 3 The two teams would square Frazee, Mol. 0-1 0-0 3 1 0 off again on March 11 at the Vines TEAM ------2 ------Center, this time with the Big South Total 22-56 6-16 48 18 53 Championship trophy at stake. High Attendance: 898 With four starters from the previous season’s Point got off to a fast start, taking a 30-21 lead Officials: Lawson Newton, Jennifer Rezac, Bryan Brunette Sweet 16 squad lost to graduation and a roster into halftime. The Lady Flames were able to dig completely devoid of seniors, prospects were out of the hole by using their bread-and-butter, NCAA San Antonio Sub Regional Tournament uncertain as the 2005-06 Liberty women’s rebounding and defense. Liberty outrebounded DePaul 68, Liberty 43 basketball season tipped off. Would this be the the visitors by 18 and limited High Point to 19 Allstate Arena, Rosemont, Ill. season that saw the Lady Flames’ string of Big percent shooting in the second half. FG- FT- South Tournament titles end at nine? Meanwhile, sophomore guard Allyson Liberty FGA FTA REB PF TP Head coach Carey Green’s squad opened the Fasnacht came through in the clutch. Already a Piotrkiewicz 0-4 0-0 3 4 0 season with a home contest against Virginia Big South first-team all-conference honoree, she Frazee, Mor. 3-9 4-6 2 5 11 Nikagbatse 2-7 1-1 4 1 5 Union. In that game, Lady Flames supporters added a Big South Tournament MVP award to her Watkins 1-2 0-0 0 0 2 got a taste of what was to come in the 25-point collection, sealing that award with the game- Fasnacht 0-4 0-2 1 1 0 Liberty win. Although the faces were different Jones 0-2 0-0 0 0 0 clinching jumper with 14.9 seconds remaining. Parker 1-5 1-1 2 1 3 (two freshmen started), Green’s philosophy was That 53-50 victory gave Liberty its Feagin 2-3 1-1 2 1 5 still the same—control the boards and play unprecedented 10th-straight Big South title and Hammond 3-10 0-0 4 3 7 Smigelskaite 0-1 0-0 0 1 0 stifling defense. The Lady Flames won the sent it back to the NCAA Tournament. The Lady Lightfoot 0-3 0-0 2 1 0 rebounding battle by 10 and held the visitors to Flames, seeded 13th, met a familiar foe in the Bream 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 25 percent shooting. first round, DePaul. Liberty had knocked off the Frazee, Mol. 4-4 1-1 1 0 10 TEAM ------5 ------Freshman Megan Frazee made an immediate Blue Demons to reach the Sweet 16 the Total 16-54 8-12 26 18 43 impact, scoring 17 points, pulling down 10 previous year. This time, DePaul turned the FG- FT- rebounds and dishing out five assists in the first tables on the Lady Flames, ending Liberty’s DePaul FGA FTA REBPF TP game of her collegiate career. She would go on season at 25-6 with a 68-43 triumph. Smith, C. 2-8 4-4 0 3 9 Smith, K. 7-12 4-4 13 1 18 to record nine double-doubles in the first 13 Liberty players and Green took home a good Rubino 5-7 2-4 4 3 12 games, averaging 18.5 points and 9.8 rebounds deal of hardware at season’s end. Sophomore Quigley 5-8 2-2 3 2 13 Towers 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 per contest. She was able to pick up a good Roli-Ann Nikagbatse was named the Mitidiero 1-4 0-0 1 1 3 portion of the scoring slack that had had been conference’s first-ever Defensive Player of the Cattell 0-3 0-0 4 2 0 lost from the previous year’s squad. Carney, R. 0-1 0-2 1 0 0 Year. Moriah Frazee was included on the Big Johnson 0-2 0-0 2 1 0 All seemed to be going well until Frazee went South All-Freshman Team. Megan Frazee earned Morrison 0-1 0-0 4 0 0 down with a season-ending knee injury during a a spot on the VaSID All-State second team. Carney, E. 1-5 4-4 3 0 6 Musante 0-0 0-0 1 0 0 mid-January home game against Coastal Green won both Big South Coach of the Year and Benton 1-2 0-0 0 0 2 Carolina. From that point on, Green’s coaching VaSID State Coach of the Year honors. Medley 2-3 1-1 5 0 5 Collins 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 ability and the young Lady Flames’ mettle would The 2005-06 version of the Lady Flames not TEAM ------5 ------be put to the test. only silenced their doubters but paved the way Total 24-5717-21 47 13 68 Fortunately for the Liberty faithful, those tests for a bright future with so many young players Attendance: 3,266 were passed with flying colors. High Point gaining valuable experience throughout the year. Officials: Melissa Barlow, Connie knocked off the Lady Flames, 64-55, on Jan. 25, Pardue, Maj Forsberg

130 2007-08 Liberty Lady Flames Basketball